Can exercise, therapy, rest, posture, or stretching help treat osteoporosis?
Physical therapy can help to increase the muscle and bone strength. For patients with spinal osteoporosis, back extension exercises are recommended. These can be taught by the therapist, who can help a patient establish a home program for back care. Sit-ups and other back flexion exercises can increase the risk of osteoporotic fractures and they should be avoided. Lifting heavy objects also should be avoided. Lifting and twisting can be particularly stressful to the bones in the back. Golfing is an activity that puts a twisting force on the spine and can cause fractures. Contact sports and fast downhill skiing cause fractures even in young healthy people with strong bones, so common sense dictates that it is unwise to engage in these kinds of activities when people have osteoporosis. On the other hand, many patients with a fracture or diagnosis of osteoporosis become fearful and limit their activity. This is a bad idea because the bones respond to exercise by becoming stronger. For the
